The Fraud Five by Mike Kern – Week Two Edition

The Fraud Five

By Mike Kern

September 12, 2021

Florida State — Can’t be losing to an FCS team, for the first time ever by the way, and maybe not one week after you took Notre Dame to overtime. And it came on a 59-yard pass on the final play, against Jacksonville State, which then had one of its players plant the school flag at the center of the field. Coach Mike Norvell called it “unacceptable.” He would not be wrong. Just ask Seminole Nation.

Southern Cal — You shouldn’t be losing at home to Stanford by 14, as a 17-point fave. Especially after Stanford looked so bad in losing at Kansas State, which then struggled at home against Southern Illinois.

Texas — Shouldn’t be losing at Arkansas by 19 as a touchdown fave. You think new coach Steve Sarkisian saw this one coming?

Ohio State — Losing to Oregon ain’t necessarily a sin, even at home. But the Bucks were favored by two TDs, for whatever that means. Good thing the Ducks were missing two of their best defensive players. The OSU defense obviously has some issues. But it’s a long season. The Bucks just have lost their margin for any more errors.

Iowa State — Again, no sin when you’re the No. 9 team and you lose to the No. 10, your in-state rival, at home by 10. And Iowa was coming off a huge win over Indiana, another team with aspirations for a change. Still … this was supposed to be the year the Cyclones were really poised to do something. And they still might, in the Big 12. But it has to hurt that Iowa still pretty much owns this series. And ISU was favored by about 4.

Dishonorable Mentions:

Colorado State — Once more, our good buddy Steve Addazio makes it. I know, nobody cares about the Rams. But they lost at home to Vanderbilt, as a TD fave. Vandy had lost 11 straight. Both teams had lost the week before to FCS opponents. Good thing CSU scored the first 14 (and only seven after that). And that it wore special orange “pumpkin” jerseys (instead of its traditional green and gold), which was supposed to show support for the school’s agricultural background.

Arizona — OK, I know nobody cares about the Wildcats either. But they lost at home to San Diego State, as a slight fave, by 24. Which extended their losing streak in Tucson to 13, which seems kind of impossible. That’s Kansas west.